Horizontal drill slide and reconveyor for installing underground lines



June 24, `1969 P. J. CLELLAND 3,451,491

1 HORIZUNTAL vDRILL. SLIDE AND RECONVEYOR FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND LINES Filed April 27, 1967 Sheet INVENTUK.

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United States Patent O 3,451,491 HORIZONTAL DRILL SLIDE AND RECONVEYOR FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND LINES Patrick J. Clelland, Springwater, N.Y. (69 Old Post Road, Fairport, N.Y. 14550) Filed Apr. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 634,149 Int. Cl. E21c 5/00, 9/00, 11/00 U.S. Cl. 173-44 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus and a method for installing underground tubing from an excavation without any additional digging of trenches. More particularly, the present invention provides an economical and relatively rapid method for installing tubing of relatively small diameter underground by drilling a borehole through a formation and pulling the tubing through the uncased borehole.

An important object of the present invention is to provide apparatus composed of relatively portable components capable of being assembled and operatively anchored at a desired location for the installation of underground tubing in a relatively rapid and economical fashion.

In accordance with the foregoing object, an elongated guide frame assembly is anchored in a level position in a basement for example in order to mount a piston assembly and rotary drilling motor adjacent to a vertical wall through which a borehole is to be drilled, the piston assembly advancing the motor as it rotates a drill rod to which a drilling tool is aixed for penetrating the formation through which the `borehole is to be formed. The piston assembly advances the drilling assembly through a predetermined stroke from an anchored location which is moved forwardly until the borehole is complete. The drilling motor is then removed and the piston assembly directly connected to the drill rod so that when the tubing is coupled to the drill rod, the piston assembly may pull the tubing through the uncased borehole previously formed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view through an underground installation, with the apparatus of the present invention shown in side elevation during one phase of its operation.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view similar to that of FIGURE l but showing the apparatus in another phase of its operation.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a rear end view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken Patented June 24, 1969 ICC substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 -is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by 4section line 7-7 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 8 8 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 9-9 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of one of the supporting assemblies associated with the apparatus.

FIGURE 1l is a perspective view of one of the stop pins associated with the apparatus.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 12--12 in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the apparatus of the present invention generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is installed in a basement 12 adjacent to a vertical wall 14 so as to form a horizontal yborehole 16 through the earth formation 18 opening into the trench 20 within which a service main 22 may be located. The apparatus 10 is therefore adapted to form the borehole by means of a drilling tool `or drill bit 24 removably connected to the end of a tubular drill rod 26, `as shown in FIGURE 1. Once the borehole is formed, tubing 28 may be coupled to the drill rod and pulled through the uncased borehole 16 into the basement area 12 as shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the apparatus 10 includes a guide frame generally referred to by reference numeral 30 from which the drill rod 26 extends forwardly. The drill rod is adapted to be rotated by means of a iiuid motor 32 preferably of the pneumatic, rotary vane type which is slidably mounted on the guide frame. The iluid motor and the drill rod connected thereto are adapted to be forwardly advanced lby means of a piston assembly which is also slidably mounted on the guide frame and is generally referred to by reference numeral 34. The piston assembly is also operative to retract the drill rod in order to pull the tubing therewith through the previously formed borehole. Control over both the fluid motor 32 and the piston assembly 34 is exercised by means of a control valve assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 36 through which fluid under pressure such as air is supplied to the fluid motor and piston assembly.

The guide frame 30 includes a pair of guide tubes 38 interconnected in parallel spaced relation to each other at the forward end by means of a pivotal anchoring assembly 40. The pivotal anchoring assembly includes a floor plate 42 secured adjacent the lateral ends thereof to the iloor 44 by means of anchor pins 46. Swivel brackets 48 are secured to the floor plate and are pivotally connected by means of bolt assemblies 50 to hinge projections 52 that extend from the forward ends of the guide tubes 38. Thus, the pivotal anchoring assembly 40 not only interconnects the guide tubes in spaced relation to each other at the forward ends but also pivotally mounts the guide tubes about a horizontal axis adjacent the forward ends thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the guide tubes. The guide tubes are interconnected in parallel spaced relation -t-o each other intermediate the ends thereof by a plurality of braces 54 that are welded thereto and extend therebelow as more clearly seen in FIGURES 7 and 8. The guide tubes are also interconnected adjacent the rear ends thereof and adjustably anchored to the door by means of an adjusting mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 56.

The mechanism 56 includes a floor plate 58 secured to the floor by anchor pins 60. Pivotally connected to the floor plate intermediate the lateral ends thereof and between the guide tubes 38, is a screw-type jack mechanism including an internally threaded member 62 as shown in FIGURE threadedly receiving the actuating screw member y64 to which the actuating handle 66 is pivotally connected at the upper end 68, the actuating screw also being threadedly received by a nut element 70 secured internally to a tubular elevating member 72 adapted to be vertically displaced in response to rotation of the screw member 64 by the actuating handle. The Itubular elevating member 72 is connected as by welding to a web 74 to which the lateral collars 76 are secured. The guide tubes 38 slidably extend through the collars 76 so as to be vertically adjusted by means of the tubular elevating member 72 `of the screw jack. Thus, the rear end portions of the guide tubes may be vertically adjusted to a position at which they are locked by means of the mechanism 56. Locking of the guide tubes in the adjusted position, is effected by providing the actuating handle 66 with a slot 78 adapted to receive one of the locking projections 80 that extend radially from the tubular elevating member 72 when the handle is folded downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 5 for example. Thus, the guide frame 30 may be leveled so as to guide movement of the drilling motor 32 in a horizontal direction causing the drill bit 32 to penetrate and form a horizontal borehole through the formation 18 as aforementioned.

The uid mot-or 32 is of a conventional type supported by a motor bracket 82 having lateral collar portions 84 which slidably receive the guide tubes 38 therethrough as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8. The motor includes a tluid inlet portion 86 to which air under pressure is supplied for operation of the motor. A rotating output shaft 88 extends forwardly from the motor in parallel alignment between the longitudinal axes of the guide tubes 38 and is threadedly connected to the end of the drill rod 26 as more clearly seen in FIGURE S. A uid passage extends through the motor shaft 88 so as to establish uid communication between the tubular drill rod 26 and the passage within a coupling member 90 secured to a flange connector 92 that projects from the side of the motor 32 opposite the output shaft 88. A coolant such as water may thereby be supplied through the drill rod 26 to the drill Ibit 24 by means of the titting 94 and the coolant supply conduit 96. The drill rod 26 is also supported adjacent the forward end of the guide frame by means of a drill rod guide 98 which includes a pair of collars 100 interconnected in spaced relation to each other by means of the spacer elements 102 to which a guide sleeve 104 is connected enclosing a wooden guide bushing 106 dimensioned to receive the drill rod 26 with a sliding tit as more clearly seen in FIGURE 9. Thus, it will be apparent that the drill bit 24 will be rotated by the air motor 32 in order to penetrate the formation 18 as the motor 32 and the drill rod 26 ar axially advanced in a forward direction along the guide frame 30.

The air motor and drill rod are forwardly advanced by means of the piston assembly 34 as aforementioned and to this end, the coupling member 90 connects the motor 32 to the projecting end of the piston rod 108, the inner end `of which is connected to a piston 110. The piston includes a pair of cup gaskets 112 spaced in backto-back relation by a spacer plate 114, each cup gasket enclosing a backing plate 116. The plates and gaskets are interconnected by assembly bolts 118 to form the piston slidably disposed within the horizontally elongated cylinder member 120 through which the piston rod 108 eX- tends. Air under pressure is supplied to one side of the piston for advancing the drill rod 26 by means of a supply conduit 122, while supply conduit 124 supplies air under pressure to the other side of the piston in order to retract the drill rod. The piston assembly is slidably mounted by means of the cylinder member between the guide tubes and `toward this end, a pair of slide support brackets 126 slidably support the cylinder member in horizontal alignment between the guide tubes 38 so as to axially align the axis of the piston rod 108 with the axis of the drill rod 26. Each support bracket 126 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 10, includes a central clamping yband 128 embracing the cylinder member and secured thereto by means of clamping bolts 130 as shown in FIGURE 3. Guide collars 132 are secured to the opposite lateral sides of lthe clamping band 128 in order to slidably receive the guide tubes 38 therethrough. Thus, the sliding supports 126 permit the piston assembly 34 to be slidably moved longitudinally along the guide frame 30 together with the fluid motor 32 which is similarly slidably mounted on the guide frame by means of the slide bracket A82.

Air under pressure is supplied to the motor 32 and piston assembly 34 from any suitable source by means of the conduit 134 as shown in FIGURE 3 to which the control valve assembly 36 is connected. A main control valve 136 is therefore opened in order to render the apparatus operative. Air under pressure may therefore be supplied to the motor 32 for operation thereof upon opening of the motor control valve 138. The piston assembly 34 is rendered operative to forwardly advance the motor 32 and drill rod upon opening of the forward control valve 140, air then being bled from the opposite end of the cylinder member 20 through the valve 142. On the other hand, the drill rod 26 is retracted in a rearward direction and uid under pressure is supplied through the supply conduit 124 to the piston assembly upon opening of the reverse control valve 144, air then being bled from the other side of the cylinder member through valve 146.

The piston assembly is anchored at different locations along the guide frame from which it advances or retracts the drill rod 26 through a predetermined stroke. Toward this end, the guide tubes 38 are provided with horizontally aligned holes l148 adapted to receive stop pins 150 therethrough. As more clearly seen in FIGURE l1, each stop pin includes annular grooves 152 and 154 adapted to be seated on the edges of the guide tubes at the openings 148. A stop plate 156 is formed on the stop pin adjacent to the groove 154 so as to abut the slide collars 132 associated with the support brackets 146 for the piston assembly or the collars 84 associated with the slide bracket 82 for the motor 32. The stop pins are accordingly positioned as shown in FIGURE 3 so as to anchor the piston assembly at one location permitting it to forwardly advance the iluid motor 32 to which it is connected by means of the coupling 90. After the iluid motor is advanced through the predetermined stroke of the piston assembly, it may be anchored in position by means of the stop pins 150 and the piston assembly released so that it may be forwardly moved relative to its piston rod 108 and piston 110 a distance equal to the stroke of the piston assembly. Thus, the stop pins are inserted or removed in order to permit the piston assembly to be forwardly moved along the guide frame so that the -drill rod may be further advanced in a forward direction until the borehole extends through the formation being drilled. Once the borehole has lbeen completed the drill bit 24 is removed from the end of the drill rod and the tubing 28 coupled thereto by means of a coupling |158. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 12, an externally threaded tting 160 is soldered to the end of the tubing 28 for threaded connection to the coupling 158 which in turn is internally threaded so as to couple the tubing to the threaded end portion 162 of the drill rod from which the drill bit 24 was removed.

summarizing the operations with which the apparatus of the present invention is involved, with reference to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the apparatus is installed by means of the pivotal anchoring assembly 40 adjacent to the wall 14 through which the borehole 16 is to be formed. The guide frame 30 is then angularly adjusted by means of mechanism 56. At the beginning of the drilling operation, it will be appreciated that the piston assembly 34 will be anchored at a rearward position from which it is forwardly moved after each time it advances the drill rod through a predetermined stroke. Advancement of the drill rod by the piston assembly is controlled through the control valve assembly 36 as aforementioned through which operation of the fluid motor 32 is also controlled so as to regulate the rotation of the drill bit 24 at the end of the drill rod. Coolant is also supplied to the drill bit through the coupling 90 which interconnects the piston assembly with the fluid motor 32. It will be appreciated, that the piston assembly may be moved forwardly the length of a drill rod section and then rearwardly in order to add additional lengths of drill rod sections during the drilling operation resulting in the formation of a borehole 16 of a length substantially greater than that of the guide frame 30. Once the borehole is completed, the drill bit 24 is removed from the end of the drill rod and the tubing coupled thereto by the coupling 158 as shown in FIGURE 2. The drill rod may then be directly connected to the projecting end of the piston rod 108, the uid motor 32 being removed from the assembly. The piston assembly may then be moved rearwardly from one anchored location to another and sections of the drill rod removed in order to pull the tubing 28 completely through the borehole 16 into the basement 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus for installing underground tubing comprising an elongated guide frame having forward and rear ends, a rotary drill rod, means pivotally anchoring the guide frame at the forward end at a fixed location, leveling means pivotally anchoring the guide frame adjacent the rear end, fluid operated means slidably mounted by the guide frame for advancing and retracting said drill rod and stop means for holding the fluid operated means in selected positions along the guide frame, said leveling means comprising, a screw jack having an anchoring base, a vertically movable member in threaded engagement with an elevating screw element and an actuating handle pivotally connected to the screw element for movement between actuating and locking positions, a support member secured to the vertically movable member having a pair of collars through which the guide frame extends, said movable member having a plurality of lock projections extending radially therefrom spaced circumferentially thereon and engageable with the actuating handle in the locking position to lock the jack in a vertically adjusted position of the member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid operated means comprises a fluid chamber device having a piston rod extending forwardly therefrom, a uid motor slidably mounted by the guide frame and drivingly connected to said drill rod extending forwardly therefrom, means coupling the piston rod to the uid motor and Supplying coolant to the drill rod and a drill guide mounted by the guide frame adjacent said forward end through which the drill rod extends.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said guide frame includes a pair of parallel spaced guide tubes, hinge means connected to the forward ends of the guide tubes connecting the same to the pivotal anchoring means and brace means disposed below the guide tubes interconnecting the same at spaced locations.

4. Apparatus for boring through an earth formation comprising a portable elongated guide frame having forward and rear ends, pivotal anchoring means connected to the guide frame adjacent said forward end for establishing a fixed hinge axis transverse of said frame, power Operated drill means longitudinally slidably mounted on the guide frame having a tubular rod, fluid operated means mounted on the guide frame and connected to the tubular rod for advancing and retracting the power operated drill means, support means slidably receiving and supporting the guide frame adjacent the rear end thereof, said support means being extendable transversely of said frame for pivotal movement of the guide frame about the hinge axis for selectively positioning the frame longitudinally relative to the formation, and locking means for holding said support means extended and thereby ixing the frame in a selected position to direct movement of the tubular rod through the formation, said support means including a load elevating jack having an anchoring base, a vertically movable member and actuating means for moving the vertically movable member relative to the base including a pivoted actuating handle and a support member secured to the vertically movable member, said support member having a pair of collars through which the guide frame slidably extends, said locking means having a plurality of lock projections extending radially from said movable member and circumferentially spaced thereon and engageable with the actuating handle in a locking position to lock the jack in a vertically adjusted position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said guide frame includes a pair of parallel spaced guide tubes, hinge means connected to the forward ends of the guide tubes connecting the same to the pivotal anchoring means and brace means disposed below the guide tubes interconnecting the same as spaced locations.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein the fluid operated means includes a fluid chamber device positioned on the guide frame and a piston rod extending from the chamber device, and coupling means connecting the piston rod to the tubular rod.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said power operated drill means includes a compressed air motor connected to the tubular rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,068 10/ 1933 Englebright et al. 175-62 X 2,165,666 7/ 1939 Tilly 175-62 X 2,196,260 4/1940 Gatto 175-62 X 2,349,033 5/ 1944 lElliott 61-72.7 X 3,107,741 10/ 1963 Adams et al. 6172.7 X 2,210,628 8/1940 Mantini v 173-35 2,969,121 1/1961 Wallace 173--37 X EAR-L J. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

